Notes / Commercial Description:
Flemish Red Ale that was fermented with lacto and Brett and aged in wine barrels to give a distinct tartness to this very deep red, malty beer. Notes of vanilla and oak round the finish.

User Reviews

Thanks to Thomas & Jenny for sharing this! Quick review from written notes.

Poured into a small tulip glass, the color is a dark reddish brown with a crimson highlight. A thin layer of parchment-tinged foam settles on top, it has a creamy surface texture and leaves behind some spotty lacing.

Cherry skins, minerals, very lightly acidic fruit in the aroma.

Puckering sour cherry, light notes of wet wood, malty in the middle with a light spiciness. The beer is medium bodied and spritzy, with a dry finish. Moderate barrel character that lends essential complexity. A nice example of the style, recommended.

T - This is unusually sour and acidic for a Flanders red, although there's a hint of caramel malt to support the lactic an oaky notes. The wine barrels impart an acidity and vinous tang that I don't normally get from the Belgian foudre-based takes on this style. It's not unpleasant, but it's grows a bit fatiguing as time goes on.

M - Medium body, pleasant carbonation, with a dry, oaky texture. Some lingering stickiness that reveals the base beer's sweetness. No alcohol, as one would expect.

D - Not as sweet as something like Rodenbach, and a bit more 'American' than 'Flanders'. A solid and enjoyable sour, but I don't think I would have spent $20 on a bottle. Still, pretty easy to drink an 8oz portion.

This is my favorite Flanders and actually turned me on to the style. I've had 2 bottles and draft. You can taste the wood along with rich tart cherry flavor. The body is well made and suitable for easy drinking. It is crisp but not overtly sour. A tart bite like tart cherries. I could drink this beer all day and be happy.

M: Very smooth and cherry-like, perfect carbonation. A nice sweetness of the malt to balance the upfront sour/tartness in the mouthfeel. Coats the palate like a red wine.

O: This is a very enjoyable beer. I went back for a few pours of this at the 25th Anniversary party. A very strong sour showing by GI at the party and this was up there with the best of them. I really enjoyed the red wine barrel aspect of this brew. Up front its a dark tartness with a sweet malty backbone and nice barrel finish of vanilla and oak.